Across 32 districts: Anti-polio drive kicks off in Balochistan today
Provincial govt plans to launch nine similar campaigns over the next nine months
Provincial govt plans to launch nine similar campaigns over the next nine months. PHOTO: AFP
QUETTA:
Authorities in Balochistan are all set to launch a polio immunisation drive from Monday (today) in 32 districts of the province with an aim to administer oral polio vaccine drops to over 2.4 million children below the age of five years.
“The provincial government is taking all necessary measures to improve the quality of the anti-polio campaign to achieve the target set under National Emergency Action Plan (NEAP),” Balochistan Health Minister Rehmat Saleh Baloch told reporters.
Under the NEAP, Balochistan will launch nine high quality anti-polio drives over the course of nine months. He was accompanied by Health Secretary Noorul Haq Baloch, Coordinator Emergency Operation Centre Dr Saifur Rehman and Coordinator EPI Shakir Baloch. Ulema and religious clerics including Dr Attaur Rehman, Maulana Anwarul Haq Haqqani, Maulana Abdul Rahim Raheemi and Maulana Abdul Baqi Tauhidi were present to show their support for anti-polio drive.
Baloch said the campaign will take place in 32 districts and target 24,72,616 children aged below five years. There will be 6,603 mobile teams, 796 fixed teams, 321 transit teams and 46 permanent transit points across Balochistan during the three-day campaign.
At least five children have contracted the crippling polio disease in the province this year, while 25 polio cases have been reported from across the country.
Looming threat
Regarding the possibility of attacks on the teams of polio vaccinators, the minister said that a security plan has been finalised with the deployment of Balochistan Levies, Balochistan Frontier Corps and police.
The provincial government has imposed a ban on pillion riding in Quetta ahead of the polio vaccination campaign.
The home department announcement said that Section 144 had been imposed and ban on pillion riding will go into effect from September 14 till 16.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 14th, 2015.
Authorities in Balochistan are all set to launch a polio immunisation drive from Monday (today) in 32 districts of the province with an aim to administer oral polio vaccine drops to over 2.4 million children below the age of five years.
“The provincial government is taking all necessary measures to improve the quality of the anti-polio campaign to achieve the target set under National Emergency Action Plan (NEAP),” Balochistan Health Minister Rehmat Saleh Baloch told reporters.
Under the NEAP, Balochistan will launch nine high quality anti-polio drives over the course of nine months. He was accompanied by Health Secretary Noorul Haq Baloch, Coordinator Emergency Operation Centre Dr Saifur Rehman and Coordinator EPI Shakir Baloch. Ulema and religious clerics including Dr Attaur Rehman, Maulana Anwarul Haq Haqqani, Maulana Abdul Rahim Raheemi and Maulana Abdul Baqi Tauhidi were present to show their support for anti-polio drive.
Baloch said the campaign will take place in 32 districts and target 24,72,616 children aged below five years. There will be 6,603 mobile teams, 796 fixed teams, 321 transit teams and 46 permanent transit points across Balochistan during the three-day campaign.
At least five children have contracted the crippling polio disease in the province this year, while 25 polio cases have been reported from across the country.
Looming threat
Regarding the possibility of attacks on the teams of polio vaccinators, the minister said that a security plan has been finalised with the deployment of Balochistan Levies, Balochistan Frontier Corps and police.
The provincial government has imposed a ban on pillion riding in Quetta ahead of the polio vaccination campaign.
The home department announcement said that Section 144 had been imposed and ban on pillion riding will go into effect from September 14 till 16.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 14th, 2015.